Our little family went for Umrah in Dec 2025. Before that, we went for a short holiday to Cairo and spent 4 days there.

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

Husband made the bookings using Trip.com for the flight tickets and hotels. We departed from KLIA1 in the morning. Each seat on the plane has a blanket, a pair of headphones and a mini reversible tote that holds earplugs, hand cream and a blindfold. My daughter received a water bottle, a pencil case and an activity book.

I applaud the wonderful in-flight meals and entertainment. The 6-hour journey passed by in a breeze.

TURQUOISE PYRAMID HOTEL

Total RM 635.00 for a 5D4N stay.

We used UBER quite a lot during our stay here as the rate was quite cheap, despite the ride feeling like being on a rollercoaster. Plus, they have no regard whatsoever for the speed limits, road lanes and helmets! Everyone drives the car like they’re in a hurry all the time.

The room we booked has 2 double beds, clean bathrooms, a mini fridge and most importantly, the majestic view of the pyramid. There is also FREE WIFI, and the reception was very accommodating. We did not include breakfast as we brought our own meals from Malaysia. My husband packed a lot of instant noodles, pasta and pastries.

The December weather in Cairo was chilly. I did need to wear a light jacket, especially when we go out in the morning. It gets warmer towards the end of the day. Maghrib was very early. We got very sleepy as the day clocked into 7PM. Haneem went to bed that early. Thus, we did not experience Cairo at night. We woke up early too, between 2 and 3AM. The circadian rhythm went a bit haywire during our Cairo stay.

GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM

2 adults,1 child: RM 387.00

This newly opened museum was rich in history. I, for one, never really enjoy going to the museum, but coming here was so enlightening. I did feel that my knowledge of Egyptian history began to become a bit saturated, having spent just over 2 hours there. Avid lovers of history might want to spend the whole day there, with breaks in between, to absorb the majestic presentations of people from the past.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION

2 adults, 1 child: RM 122.00

I thought Egyptians during the time of the pyramids were giants. However, looking at the size of the tombs and the mummies on display, I learned that they’re just like our size. It is amazing considering the amount of work that was done to preserve and showcase history in a delightful way for visitors of all ages and nationalities.

Human civilisation is always an interesting part of human history, as we unknowingly try to compare how it was for them during that time with ours. The technology, fashion and general way of life were undoubtedly interesting for a commoner like myself to read about and explore.

THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA

2 adults, 1 child: RM 151.00

A trip to Egypt would not have been complete without a visit to the pyramids. Compared to how it was more than a decade ago, now they have a hop-on, hop-off bus in the area. Honestly, it would be nice to visit this place with a tour group or guide. I believe the history behind the pyramids would become much more alive with the stories.

As we neared the last stop of the bus (near the sphinx), we were told that we’d need to rent a horse carriage to bring us back to where we started. Realising that this could be one of those ‘scams’, we decided to just walk past the carriage area and lo and behold, we saw the proper bus. Waiting for visitors to climb on so that we could make our way back up to the entrance. There was no need for an extra carriage or camel ride, unless you prefer to, since the bus service is included in the ticket price.

General opinion of Egypt

It was easy to see that Egypt is a muslim country. The people are kind and carefree. Too carefree to a certain point that they don’t give much thought to the rules of the world, like car lanes, social etiquette or behaviour.

Egyptians pray wherever they please. It is not wrong because we know that everywhere is a place worthy of worship to ALLAH. Hence, I saw them praying by the roadside, in the middle of the restaurant and at airport seats. No one bats an eyelid or gives off side-eyes because it is an acceptable norm. It is not something that Malaysians would be accustomed to do but it was an observation that I was pleased to witness.

Egyptian food was super delicious. I just wish I had taken more photos of it. Especially at this buffet place we went to. In short, their protein meals, the chicken, lamb, beef whatsoever tasted delicious in whatever way they were cooked. Eventhough it is just fried chicken. Egyptian hospitality was top-notch, and they really entertain kids very well. My daughter was called a princess every time during her visit there.

Even then, it was quite amusing to experience their service in the ‘fast food’ industry. We went to WIZZO and placed our order. It was not even noon yet, and there was no other customer in the store. The lady at the counter was very firm in taking our order, and it took about 30 to 40 minutes for our food to be served. That was so slow for a fast-food joint. We thought maybe the chicken needed some defrosting or marinating before it was fried. Thankfully, the meal was delicious, although the soft drink that came with it was really small.

We did some food shopping at Carrefour. I scouted for their local products. I bought these. There was one particular chocolate bar that I liked called Corona (if I am not mistaken). I should have bought more. Grocery prices, as compared to Malaysia, are fairly low. As a milk lover, their milk cartons are super cheap. My husband bought some Egyptian tea as gifts and for our own consumption. He also got some cooking spices and marinades for his mother.

After spending 4 days in Cairo, it was time to leave for our Umrah. We boarded the Flyadeal airline for a 3-hour journey to Jeddah. That part of the trip will be in my next post.